Notes on Atiśaya (supernatural powers)

These atiśayas, of which there are 34, are characteristics of the Arhats. They are enumerated in Hemacandra’s Abhidhāna-cintāmaṇi r. 57-64. The body has wonderful beauty and fragrance, is free from disease, free from perspiration and dirt; breath has fragrance of a lotus; flesh and blood are white as a stream of cow’s milk; process of eating and elimination is not visible. These are 4 inborn atiśayas.

For a crore of crores of men, gods, and animals to be contained in the space, of a yojana; speech corresponding to the speech (bhāṣa) of men, animals and gods, and extending for a yojana; a beautiful halo at the back of the head, whose splendor surpasses that of the sun; in the space of 200 gavyūtis there is no sickness, hostility, plague, pestilence, excess nor lack of rain, hunger, no fear of oppression from own nor another king: these are 11 atiśayas arising from destruction of karma.

A dharmacakra in the sky; chauris; a shining lion-throne with a footstool; three umbrellas; a jeweled banner; golden lotuses for walking on; three splendid walls (samavasaraṇa); fourfold face and body; thorns with points turned down; bending of trees; loud music from a drum; a favorable wind; birds flying to the right; rain of perfumed water; rain of many-coloured flowers; the hair, beard and nails cease to grow; a koṭi of the four classes of gods in order of rank standing near; the favorableness of the seasons always having objects (such as flowers) that appeal to the senses: these are the 19 divine atiśayas. These are given also in Sam, 34, p. 61 f., with differences.

Part 2:

These are 34. They are characteristics of the Arhats.

There are 4 inborn atiśayas: the body has wonderful beauty and fragrance, is free from disease, free from perspiration and dirt; breath has fragrance of a lotus; flesh and blood are white as cow’s milk; process of eating and elimination is not visible.

There are 11 arising from destruction of karma: for a crore of crores of men, gods, and animals to be contained in the space of a yojana; language corresponding to the different languages (bhāṣā) of men, animals, and gods, extending for a yojana; a beautiful halo at the back of the head, whose splendor surpasses that of the sun; in the space of 200 gavyūtis plus 25 yojanas, there is no sickness, hostility, plague, pestilence, excess nor lack of rain, hunger, fear of oppression from own or another king.

There are 19 divine atiśayas: a dharmacakra in the sky; fly-whisks; a shining lion-throne with a footstool; three umbrellas; a jeweled banner; golden lotuses for walking on; three splendid walls (samavasaraṇa); fourfold face and body; caitya-tree; thorns with points turned down; bending of trees; loud music from a drum; a favorable wind; birds flying to the right; rain of perfumed water; rain of many-colored flowers; the hair, beard, and nails cease to grow; a crore of the 4 classes of gods in order of rank standing near; the favorableness of the seasons always having objects (such as flowers) that appeal to the senses. Abhi. 1.57-64. In this connection in his com. to Abhi. 1.60 Hemacandra defines gavyūti as 2 kos, so there would be a radius of 125 yojanas exempt from all ills.